Brendan Rodgers to discuss Scott Bain's Celtic future
The goalkeeper made his debut for the club in Sunday's Old Firm victory
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has confessed a deal for goalkeeper Scott Bain beyond the end of the season may be in his interests.
The on-loan Dundee man was thrown into last weekend's Old Firm after an injury to Dorus de Vries, making several crucial saves in Celtic's 3-2 victory.
Bain had not played since clashing with Dens Park manager Neil McCann in October before a brief loan move to Hibernian
Injury to Craig Gordon led to Celtic sending out an SOS to Bain in January and, after warming the bench he responded to the call with a fine display at Ibrox, which has left Rodgers considering a more permanent deal for the 26-year-old.
"I thought Scott Bain was absolutely outstanding last week to come into a game of that magnitude,'' the Hoops boss said. "If you can play in that game as a Celtic player away at Ibrox with that atmosphere against your biggest rivals, then you know you can play in any game of football for Celtic.
"It's difficult to come in as back-up goalkeeper, but the likes of (goalkeeping coach) Stevie Woods, who has known him longer than I, have always said that he's a player that could play for us.
"Sometimes someone's misfortune means good fortune for you and that was the way it worked out for Scott.
"I wanted to see him at some point in the season and I needed to put him in if we were going to look at anything beyond this season.
"It happened naturally that he got in and I thought his performance and temperament in that game showed me everything to say that he can play for Celtic.''
Hibs head coach Neil Lennon has admitted he is keen to take Bain back to Easter Road when his Dundee contract expires in the summer, while the likes of Hearts, Birmingham and Bristol City have also been credited with interest.
Rodgers, whose side are preparing to face Motherwell on Sunday, admits that while Bain is an ideal fit for the Parkhead club, the amount of game-time he gets could be a factor with De Vries now back fit.
When asked if he was thinking of making it a more long-term deal, Rodgers said: "I think it's short and long-term. It's pretty clear that he has the temperament and qualities to play as a goalkeeper for Celtic. We will sit down with him and see how much he is going to enjoy it and look at his game-time between now and the end of the season.''
Meanwhile Celtic have been boosted by the return to training of Leigh Griffiths after six weeks out with a calf injury.
Rodgers said: "He has just joined training but is nowhere near fit yet.
"He has worked very hard to get to this stage and now he will join the group of players in training and look to get somewhere near fit.'